What We Do

Originally the Centre was set up in order to assess and treat children who stammer from all parts of the UK. This specialist service is offered to districts that do not have sufficient numbers of referrals to warrant the appointment of a specialist therapist in stammering or who request additional advice or guidance.

The Consultation Service (a specialist assessment procedure)

This service is funded by ARSC which means that everyone is seen on an equal basis and, as soon as a referral is received, the child's name is put on the appropriate waiting list according to his or her age.

The team is justly proud of the Consultation Service provided to families and to Speech and Language Therapists who accompany them to the Centre. There are currently between 200-250 new referrals a year, for children and young adults aged 2-18 years. The consultation aims to gain a broad understanding of each child's stammering problem and the effect that it may be having on their development and the family lifestyle.

We believe that successful therapy relies on a detailed assessment, in collaboration with the family or carers, to ensure that recommendations have a "personal fit" for the child. Therefore for each consultation we request that the child attends with both parents (except in the case of a single parent family or other special circumstances). There are usually two specialist therapists assigned to the family, one will carry out a detailed speech, language and fluency assessment with the child, while the second therapist will discuss with the parents their concerns about the problem as well as collecting details of its history and development.

As stammering is a problem that can vary in severity from one day to the next, parents sometimes worry that when they come for their appointment the child will not stammer! This does happen but it really doesn't matter - we can still get the information we need from the consultation. Occasionally parents will bring in a video to show us what the stammering can be like at home; this can be helpful but is not essential.

At the end of the consultation, parents can expect to gain information concerning the nature of stammering both in general terms and specifically about their child, recommendations will be given about therapy and options discussed. Their local referring therapist is also invited to attend to ensure local support can be offered, as necessary.

A full clinical report is sent out after the consultation and it includes the agreed action plan. Some families will return to the Centre for therapy, but many will continue to attend their local clinic for the recommended specialist course of therapy. After the consultation, we offer continuing support to both the family and to the local speech and language therapist.